Borderline personality disorder

What Is Borderline personality disorder?

A critical mental disorder, which is characterized by continued instability in behavior, functioning, moods, and self-image, is termed as a borderline personality disorder. Such experiences often conclude in unstable relationships and impulsive actions.A person suffering from a borderline personality disorder (BPD) sometimes, experiences extreme incidents of anxiety, depression, and anger which can last for hours to a number of days.

What Is Borderline personality disorder?

A critical mental disorder, which is characterized by continued instability in behavior, functioning, moods, and self-image, is termed as a borderline personality disorder. Such experiences often conclude in unstable relationships and impulsive actions.A person suffering from a borderline personality disorder (BPD) sometimes, experiences extreme incidents of anxiety, depression, and anger which can last for hours to a number of days.

What Are The Symptoms Of Borderline personality disorder?

The symptoms of borderline personality disorder vary from one person to another. In comparison to men, women are more prone to borderline personality disorder. Few symptoms that can be witnessed borderline personality disorder sufferers are as follows:

One experiences dysfunctional and distorted self-image.

Feeling of emptiness, isolation, and boredom.

One does not easily feel empathy for other people.

Long unstable relationships can change immensely from intense love to intense hate.

Fear of rejection and abandonment accompanied by acute emotional reactions to perceived and real abandonment is persistent.

Extreme mood swings that can last from few hours to many days.

Intensified depression, anxiety and worry.

Dangerous, self-destructive, risky and impulsive behavior, in addition to alcohol or drug abuse, having unprotected sex and reckless driving.

Aggression.

Uncertain goals, aspirations and career plan.

Usually, people may feel familiar with few of the above-stated symptoms but the one suffering from this disorder experiences several of these symptoms throughout their adulthood.

The word “borderline” indicates to the fact in which people with borderline personality disorder aim to “border” when being diagnosed with accompanied mental health disorders which include psychosis.

The irony of borderline personality disorder is the feeling of loneliness and isolation for a long term, even when that person craves for closeness but their unstable and extreme emotional response tends to repel others.

What Are The Causes Of Borderline personality disorder?

For diseases like borderline personality disorder, the causes are not understood completely. Environmental factors are accompanied by other major factors like child abuse history or child negligence. Sometimes, borderline personality disorder is linked with certain other factors like:

Genetic: A few studies of families and twins have shown that disorders of personality can be hereditary or strongly connected with other mental disorders running in the family.

Abnormalities in the brain: According to some studies a few parts of the brain which are involved in aggression, impulsivity and emotion regulation tends to change. Also, a few chemicals in the brain like serotonin, which helps to regulate mood, might not work properly.

Other mental disorders: Borderline personality disorder can have a direct relationship with other mental disorders. If a person is suffering from other mental disorders such as bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, depression or substance abuse then there are high chances of border line personality disorder.

Childhood abuse: Sometimes, child abuse can also lead to borderline personality disorder. Certain childhood events that can cause borderline personality disorder are as follows:

Distress or phobia of certain things.

Unstable family life: Sometimes living with an alcoholic parent can lead to borderline personality disorder.

Physical or sexual abuse.

Negligence from the parents.

A sudden death of a parent.

What Are The Things One Should Do To Manage Borderline personality disorder?

Few tips that must be followed by patient’s guardians are:

Learn about borderline personality disorder: Learn about the causes, symptoms, and dos and don’ts of borderline personality disorder so that it gets easier to deal with such patients. Also, remember that symptoms vary from person to person so, deal accordingly.

Take the feelings of the patient seriously: A person with borderline personality disorder can behave in an inappropriate manner or overreact in a certain situation, but there are reasons behind those reactions. So, try to understand the reason behind one’s behavior and respect his/her feelings.

Keep oneself cool and calm: Do not overreact to either good or bad situation; deal with them calmly as this might escalate the reactions of the person suffering from it on that particular issue. Hyper actions or reactions of people around the borderline personality disorder patients might work as a trigger for them.

Try to make them feel safe: Most of the times, such behavior occurs due to certain insecurities. Try to avoid such situations, which make the person suffering from borderline personality disorder scared or frightened. Fear of anything or any situation may trigger their extreme behavior.

Try to communicate: Non- judgmental and calm communication with a person suffering from it can be beneficial. Just try to soothe the patient by talking to him/her. Also, listen to what they have to say and make them feel comfortable so that, they could easily open up with you.

Try not to get hurt by the patient’s behavior: The person suffering from it can say you some hurtful things; he/ she can get over aggressive on certain issues but don’t take it to the heart. Keep oneself strong and don’t let the patient’s words affect you because such behavior of the patient is due to this disorder. Instead, try to figure out the reason behind such hurtful behavior and deal with it calmly.

Try to stay connected with borderline personality disorder patients: Try to stay emotionally available for people afflicted with it, as it gives them a sense of security and safety. Also, try to notice even a small change in patient’s emotional availability as it can be solved when the patients are small.

Try to make good and happy memories with a borderline personality disorder patient: Create more memories in which you enjoy and have fun with such patient like with a normal person. This will help the patient to face the disorder.

Few do's that must be followed by patients suffering from borderline personality disorder are:

Good and regular exercise routine: Patient with mental disorders like borderline personality disorder should follow a good work out regime. Following exercise schedule religiously can decrease the level of stress and anxiety, which are the symptoms of borderline personality disorder. One should consult an expert for particular exercise that helps to reduce stress. Exercising without expert advice may result in an increase in stress, which further worsens the condition of the patient. One must practice breathing exercises that help in reducing anxiety. Yoga can be included in work out regime as it improves the mental health by reducing stress to a great level. Also, one can include jogging as well in his/ her exercise schedule.

Consider going for a Light therapy: Light therapy is a therapy, which works to treat certain diseases, specifically disorders and other health issues. Light box therapy is practiced with a light box. In this therapy, eyes are exposed to a light box. It not only treats borderline personality disorder but also certain other diseases like eye strains, headache, insomnia, etc. Hence, this therapy is considered to be one of the most useful therapies for borderline line disorder.

Try to take regular and uninterrupted Sleep: The person suffering from borderline personality disorder should not stay up late nights, and it is very important to take 7 to 8 hours undisturbed sleep every day. Lack of sleep can result in anxiety, depression, and restlessness, which can worsen the symptoms and cause borderline personality disorder

One should try to lead a quality life: The last but not the least tip for borderline personality disorder is related to one’s own quality of life. The quality of life can be improved by getting involved in leisure activities like playing sports, reading books, listen to soothing music etc. One can also plan a vacation with family or friends who are well aware of person’s disorder. Doing so can help to alleviate the mood of a person, distress him/her and also, deals with an anxiety level of a person. This further, helps the patient to deal with this disorder in a fun way.

What Are The Things One Should Avoid To Manage Borderline personality disorder?

Some things to be avoided for dealing with the patients with the borderline personality disorder are as follows:

Do not let them feel unimportant: Do not just discuss their disorder and its symptoms all the time with them. Try to involve them in important tasks so that, they feel the importance of their existence. Let them feel that they have good qualities and uniqueness in them.

Do not threaten a patient with borderline personality disorder: The person with it faces a lot fear hence; one should not yell or threaten them. Doing so might alleviate the symptoms of borderline personality disorder. People dealing with such patients should always stay calm; keep their body language in a low profile, and make the patients believe that you are not a threat to them in any way as it might help the patients to stay relaxed and chances of reoccurrence of the symptoms decrease.

What Are The Best Foods For Borderline personality disorder?

Certain foods that must be consumed to decrease the symptoms of borderline personality disorder are:

Omega 3 Fatty Acids rich foods: Omega 3 fatty acids are helpful in treating many mental disorders, including borderline personality disorder. It helps to stabilize one’s feelings and functioning of the mind. Omega 3 fatty acids are present in many medicines and drugs. It is also present in many foods like walnuts, salmon, spinach, flaxseed oil, chia seeds and soya beans. Taking Omega 3 fatty acids is highly recommended for treating Border line personality disorder.

Amino Acids: Amino acid is one of the most used nutrients to treat borderline personality disorder as well as bipolar disorder and depression. When symptoms arrive consume amino acid as soon as possible. This will help to prevent the symptoms from getting worse. Some amino acids that you can consume are Hydroxytryptophan, S adenosyl, and L methionine.It will help to decrease depression, anxiety and rejuvenate the mood.

Chamomile: Chamomile is a plant which is good for overall health. It is considered to be a tea. It is packed with a number of benefits such as it helps in calming the mind, reduces depression and anxiety hence it serves to decrease the symptoms of borderline personality disorder.

What Are The Worst Foods For Borderline personality disorder?

There are no worst foods particularly for borderline personality disorder but one should certainly not consume foods that cause anxiety, depression, and causes general mental deterioration. Few such foods are:

Coffee: Coffee has a high amount of caffeine in it which increases the cortisol level in one’s body. Increased cortisol may result in high-stress level even when the situation is not stressful. Increased level of anxiety may ultimately lead to or worsen the symptoms of borderline personality disorder. Hence, Coffee is definitely a no for borderline personality disorder patients.

Alcoholic Beverages: Alcohol has many health disadvantages like an increase in anxiety, depression, sleeping disorders and certain mental disorders. It increases the effect of border line personality disorder by worsening its symptoms.

Sugar containing foods: Sugar causes increase or decrease in blood sugar level which results in extreme mood swings. This can drastically increase adrenaline and cortisol level, which is known for an increase in anxiety level. With the increase in anxiety level, chances of borderline personality disorder increase. Hence, the high sugar foods such as candies, canned fruits, chocolates, packed fruit juices, pastries, and jam should be avoided.

Foods containing trans fat: Trans fat, also called hydrogenated fat is a bad food not just for one’s health, but for one’s mood as well. Certain studies have shown that the risk of anxiety and depression increases with the intake of trans fat that is present in most of the junk foods. Few junk foods containing trans-fat are candy, pizza, burger, French fries, etc.

Foods with Gluten:Sometimes, people may have gluten intolerance that may lead to anxiety and panic attack when gluten is consumed. Eating gluten free food can lead to great mental health. As consuming foods with gluten can increase anxiety, it can develop the high chances of borderline personality disorder. Certain foods that have gluten in them are French fries, ice creams, ketchup, mayonnaise, processed cheese, sausage, cereals, hot dogs, vodka, beer, puddings, etc.

What Are The Medicines For Borderline personality disorder?

What Are The Tips To Manage Borderline personality disorder?

As soon as a person is diagnosed with border line personality disorder, he/she must seek expert help so that the symptoms do aggravate further. The person with borderline personality disorder must be dealt with patience and love. He/ she must not be judged by his/ her behavior as borderline personality disorder compels them to behave in a certain manner.

What Are The Symptoms Of Borderline personality disorder?

The symptoms of borderline personality disorder vary from one person to another. In comparison to men, women are more prone to borderline personality disorder. Few symptoms that can be witnessed borderline personality disorder sufferers are as follows:

One experiences dysfunctional and distorted self-image.

Feeling of emptiness, isolation, and boredom.

One does not easily feel empathy for other people.

Long unstable relationships can change immensely from intense love to intense hate.

Fear of rejection and abandonment accompanied by acute emotional reactions to perceived and real abandonment is persistent.

Extreme mood swings that can last from few hours to many days.

Intensified depression, anxiety and worry.

Dangerous, self-destructive, risky and impulsive behavior, in addition to alcohol or drug abuse, having unprotected sex and reckless driving.

Aggression.

Uncertain goals, aspirations and career plan.

Usually, people may feel familiar with few of the above-stated symptoms but the one suffering from this disorder experiences several of these symptoms throughout their adulthood.

The word “borderline” indicates to the fact in which people with borderline personality disorder aim to “border” when being diagnosed with accompanied mental health disorders which include psychosis.

The irony of borderline personality disorder is the feeling of loneliness and isolation for a long term, even when that person craves for closeness but their unstable and extreme emotional response tends to repel others.

What Are The Causes Of Borderline personality disorder?

For diseases like borderline personality disorder, the causes are not understood completely. Environmental factors are accompanied by other major factors like child abuse history or child negligence. Sometimes, borderline personality disorder is linked with certain other factors like:

Genetic: A few studies of families and twins have shown that disorders of personality can be hereditary or strongly connected with other mental disorders running in the family.

Abnormalities in the brain: According to some studies a few parts of the brain which are involved in aggression, impulsivity and emotion regulation tends to change. Also, a few chemicals in the brain like serotonin, which helps to regulate mood, might not work properly.

Other mental disorders: Borderline personality disorder can have a direct relationship with other mental disorders. If a person is suffering from other mental disorders such as bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, depression or substance abuse then there are high chances of border line personality disorder.

Childhood abuse: Sometimes, child abuse can also lead to borderline personality disorder. Certain childhood events that can cause borderline personality disorder are as follows:

Distress or phobia of certain things.

Unstable family life: Sometimes living with an alcoholic parent can lead to borderline personality disorder.

Physical or sexual abuse.

Negligence from the parents.

A sudden death of a parent.

What Are The Things One Should Do To Manage Borderline personality disorder?

Few tips that must be followed by patient’s guardians are:

Learn about borderline personality disorder: Learn about the causes, symptoms, and dos and don’ts of borderline personality disorder so that it gets easier to deal with such patients. Also, remember that symptoms vary from person to person so, deal accordingly.

Take the feelings of the patient seriously: A person with borderline personality disorder can behave in an inappropriate manner or overreact in a certain situation, but there are reasons behind those reactions. So, try to understand the reason behind one’s behavior and respect his/her feelings.

Keep oneself cool and calm: Do not overreact to either good or bad situation; deal with them calmly as this might escalate the reactions of the person suffering from it on that particular issue. Hyper actions or reactions of people around the borderline personality disorder patients might work as a trigger for them.

Try to make them feel safe: Most of the times, such behavior occurs due to certain insecurities. Try to avoid such situations, which make the person suffering from borderline personality disorder scared or frightened. Fear of anything or any situation may trigger their extreme behavior.

Try to communicate: Non- judgmental and calm communication with a person suffering from it can be beneficial. Just try to soothe the patient by talking to him/her. Also, listen to what they have to say and make them feel comfortable so that, they could easily open up with you.

Try not to get hurt by the patient’s behavior: The person suffering from it can say you some hurtful things; he/ she can get over aggressive on certain issues but don’t take it to the heart. Keep oneself strong and don’t let the patient’s words affect you because such behavior of the patient is due to this disorder. Instead, try to figure out the reason behind such hurtful behavior and deal with it calmly.

Try to stay connected with borderline personality disorder patients: Try to stay emotionally available for people afflicted with it, as it gives them a sense of security and safety. Also, try to notice even a small change in patient’s emotional availability as it can be solved when the patients are small.

Try to make good and happy memories with a borderline personality disorder patient: Create more memories in which you enjoy and have fun with such patient like with a normal person. This will help the patient to face the disorder.

Few do's that must be followed by patients suffering from borderline personality disorder are:

Good and regular exercise routine: Patient with mental disorders like borderline personality disorder should follow a good work out regime. Following exercise schedule religiously can decrease the level of stress and anxiety, which are the symptoms of borderline personality disorder. One should consult an expert for particular exercise that helps to reduce stress. Exercising without expert advice may result in an increase in stress, which further worsens the condition of the patient. One must practice breathing exercises that help in reducing anxiety. Yoga can be included in work out regime as it improves the mental health by reducing stress to a great level. Also, one can include jogging as well in his/ her exercise schedule.

Consider going for a Light therapy: Light therapy is a therapy, which works to treat certain diseases, specifically disorders and other health issues. Light box therapy is practiced with a light box. In this therapy, eyes are exposed to a light box. It not only treats borderline personality disorder but also certain other diseases like eye strains, headache, insomnia, etc. Hence, this therapy is considered to be one of the most useful therapies for borderline line disorder.

Try to take regular and uninterrupted Sleep: The person suffering from borderline personality disorder should not stay up late nights, and it is very important to take 7 to 8 hours undisturbed sleep every day. Lack of sleep can result in anxiety, depression, and restlessness, which can worsen the symptoms and cause borderline personality disorder

One should try to lead a quality life: The last but not the least tip for borderline personality disorder is related to one’s own quality of life. The quality of life can be improved by getting involved in leisure activities like playing sports, reading books, listen to soothing music etc. One can also plan a vacation with family or friends who are well aware of person’s disorder. Doing so can help to alleviate the mood of a person, distress him/her and also, deals with an anxiety level of a person. This further, helps the patient to deal with this disorder in a fun way.

What Are The Things One Should Avoid To Manage Borderline personality disorder?

Some things to be avoided for dealing with the patients with the borderline personality disorder are as follows:

Do not let them feel unimportant: Do not just discuss their disorder and its symptoms all the time with them. Try to involve them in important tasks so that, they feel the importance of their existence. Let them feel that they have good qualities and uniqueness in them.

Do not threaten a patient with borderline personality disorder: The person with it faces a lot fear hence; one should not yell or threaten them. Doing so might alleviate the symptoms of borderline personality disorder. People dealing with such patients should always stay calm; keep their body language in a low profile, and make the patients believe that you are not a threat to them in any way as it might help the patients to stay relaxed and chances of reoccurrence of the symptoms decrease.

What Are The Best Foods For Borderline personality disorder?

Certain foods that must be consumed to decrease the symptoms of borderline personality disorder are:

Omega 3 Fatty Acids rich foods: Omega 3 fatty acids are helpful in treating many mental disorders, including borderline personality disorder. It helps to stabilize one’s feelings and functioning of the mind. Omega 3 fatty acids are present in many medicines and drugs. It is also present in many foods like walnuts, salmon, spinach, flaxseed oil, chia seeds and soya beans. Taking Omega 3 fatty acids is highly recommended for treating Border line personality disorder.

Amino Acids: Amino acid is one of the most used nutrients to treat borderline personality disorder as well as bipolar disorder and depression. When symptoms arrive consume amino acid as soon as possible. This will help to prevent the symptoms from getting worse. Some amino acids that you can consume are Hydroxytryptophan, S adenosyl, and L methionine.It will help to decrease depression, anxiety and rejuvenate the mood.

Chamomile: Chamomile is a plant which is good for overall health. It is considered to be a tea. It is packed with a number of benefits such as it helps in calming the mind, reduces depression and anxiety hence it serves to decrease the symptoms of borderline personality disorder.

What Are The Worst Foods For Borderline personality disorder?

There are no worst foods particularly for borderline personality disorder but one should certainly not consume foods that cause anxiety, depression, and causes general mental deterioration. Few such foods are:

Coffee: Coffee has a high amount of caffeine in it which increases the cortisol level in one’s body. Increased cortisol may result in high-stress level even when the situation is not stressful. Increased level of anxiety may ultimately lead to or worsen the symptoms of borderline personality disorder. Hence, Coffee is definitely a no for borderline personality disorder patients.

Alcoholic Beverages: Alcohol has many health disadvantages like an increase in anxiety, depression, sleeping disorders and certain mental disorders. It increases the effect of border line personality disorder by worsening its symptoms.

Sugar containing foods: Sugar causes increase or decrease in blood sugar level which results in extreme mood swings. This can drastically increase adrenaline and cortisol level, which is known for an increase in anxiety level. With the increase in anxiety level, chances of borderline personality disorder increase. Hence, the high sugar foods such as candies, canned fruits, chocolates, packed fruit juices, pastries, and jam should be avoided.

Foods containing trans fat: Trans fat, also called hydrogenated fat is a bad food not just for one’s health, but for one’s mood as well. Certain studies have shown that the risk of anxiety and depression increases with the intake of trans fat that is present in most of the junk foods. Few junk foods containing trans-fat are candy, pizza, burger, French fries, etc.

Foods with Gluten:Sometimes, people may have gluten intolerance that may lead to anxiety and panic attack when gluten is consumed. Eating gluten free food can lead to great mental health. As consuming foods with gluten can increase anxiety, it can develop the high chances of borderline personality disorder. Certain foods that have gluten in them are French fries, ice creams, ketchup, mayonnaise, processed cheese, sausage, cereals, hot dogs, vodka, beer, puddings, etc.

What Are The Medicines For Borderline personality disorder?

What Are The Tips To Manage Borderline personality disorder?

As soon as a person is diagnosed with border line personality disorder, he/she must seek expert help so that the symptoms do aggravate further. The person with borderline personality disorder must be dealt with patience and love. He/ she must not be judged by his/ her behavior as borderline personality disorder compels them to behave in a certain manner.